Robbery suspect’s brother questioned

Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert

Staff Writer

jgilbert@mojonews.com

EAST LIVERPOOL — After receiving a tip that people who may have been involved in a robbery earlier in the day might be staying at 408 Morton St., officers ended up arresting the brother of the robbery suspect.

Officers had arrested Patrick A. Lattanzio Tuesday afternoon on charges of aggravated robbery and falsification in connection with a robbery at Gilkinson’s Short Stop on Avondale Street.

Arriving at the Morton Street address Tuesday night, officers reported detecting a heavy odor of marijuana coming from the house as they walked up to it.

When they knocked on the door, Daniel F. Lattanzio, 22, opened it and officers reported the odor was even stronger.

They were asking Lattanzio about his possible involvement in the robbery at Gilkinson’s and asked if there was anyone else in the house, when he said one more person but he didn’t know his name.

Looking inside, officers saw another man and had him step outside, asking his name, which he gave as Reggie Corethers, with a birth date. It was later learned his name is Del’Fonte Fel’Shan Fortune, 27, of Cleveland and that he has an outstanding warrant out of Cuyahoga County.

It was also determined that Lattanzio had an active warrant from the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Department. City Detective Greg Smith said he is the brother of robbery suspect Patrick Lattanzio.

Both men were taken into custody on their outstanding warrants, and Fortune was charged with falsification.

A third man, Devon H. Jones, also of Cleveland, came from the house, and officers reported he is known to them as being involved with drugs being sold in the city. He had no outstanding warrants and was sent on his way.

Meanwhile, Patrick Lattanzio appeared Wednesday in East Liverpool Municipal Court on the charges stemming from the incident Tuesday at Gilkinson’s.

A preliminary hearing was set Aug. 24 on the aggravated robbery charge, and a pretrial scheduled the same day on the falsification charge, with $100,000 cash/surety bond set.

He was found to have no employment or income, and a public defender was appointed. He was ordered to not possess firearms or weapons or have contact with Gilkinson’s Short Stop.